The BBC is reporting New Zealand has been ranked fifth in the latest Economist Intelligence Unit’s ‘‘Democracy Index’’, with a score of 9.26 behind Norway on 9.93, Sweden on 9.73, Iceland on 9.65 and Denmark on 9.38 – and one place above Australia on 9.13. The index measures include to what extent the country holds free and fair elections, civil liberties, participation, turnout, the number of women MPs, and political culture.